Eight militants, two soldiers killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Eight militants and two soldiers were killed in fighting in northwest Pakistan, officials said Thursday.

In the past 24 hours to Thursday evening, the security forces have killed eight militants during search operations in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and in the neighbouring areas, the army said in a statement.

The security forces have also captured 19 militants and destroyed militants’ hideouts. A large quantity of weapons have been recovered, the statement added.

In one incident, two soldiers died and seven others wounded when they were hit by an improvised explosive device in the Bunnu tribal agency.

More than 1,600 militants have been killed since the security forces launched offensives against the Taliban in April in the area.